Pneumatic cleaner.



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Specification Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9 1912-.

mummi s August 24,1;910. Serial no. new.

Teall whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I CHAnLas E. Dunrna,

a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Reading, county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of pneumatic cleaners which are adapted tobe used by a single person who both operates the bellows and directs the cleaning nozzle.

The objects of my invention are to produce a cleaner that is easy to operate in proportion to the amount of air-lifted, that is simple in construction, that is very light, that has but few parts, that is easily cleaned, and that is so generally handy it may largely take the place of the brooms and carpet sweepers commonly used in domestic cleaning; with such minor objects as may be set forth in this specification hereafter. I accomplish these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a section approximately through the center of the cleaner; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the bellows near the lower head on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail plan showing .one of the hoops by whichthe bellows is distended with its washer-like hub and spokes of tape; Fig. 4 is a plan partly in section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the nose piece looking up- 35 ward; Fig. 5 is a section of the barrel, screen and cage on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a detail of the method of fastening the bellows to the heads.

Similar letters indicate similar parts.

In general the cleaner consists of a nozzle (1, a tube 6 leading into a dust cage 0, a screen 03 within a tight barrel 6, a bellows f having suitable inlet valves g and outlet valves h; and suitable handles 5 and j for holding and operating the barrel 6 and bellows f. The nozzle a may be of any desired shape or size and is removably and flexibly attached to the tube 1) by the flexible tube b which is usually quite short but may be jects from the nose piece 6 far enough to properly hold the tube 6 and projects ipto the dirt cage 0 far enough so that large masses of dirt piling up in the lower end of the cage 0 will not tend to fall out through the open mouth of the tube 6. The object of the cage of some length if desired. The tube 6 pro- 0 is to provide ample room for the dust and dirtaccumulations and to afi'orda skeleton around which the screen cloth dmay be rolled easily-.- This cloth d offers a large 80 area through which the air. is filtered leavmg its dust and dirt on the inner side. This large area part1 overcomes the tendency of the cloth to l with dust and stopthe free passage of the air with the result that the operation of the device becomes difli' cult. The cloth, being a plain strip not sewed nor shaped in any way, may be easily unrolled for washing or shaking to remove the dust and prevent it becoming hard he cause of the presence of dust from former operations. It may also be easily and cheaply replaced when desired as for example when it is desired to burn the dirty cloth rather than clean it because of infection or similar reason. When the screen cloth (2 is rolled around the cage 0 to the proper thickness (usuall three layers of thin muslin, two layers 0 thick or one layer of very thick) its ends are turned into the 30 open ends of the cage 0 and caps d, d are applied to these ends to both hold the screen cloth (2 in place and to close the ends of the cage 0 and screen 01. Other methods of holding the screen in place as for example rubber bands around it would serve of course but the cap at the upper end is preferable. At the lower end I have sometimes allowed the end of the cage 0 and the cloth d to come directlyin contact with the inner surface of the nose b depending on the proper length of the parts or on the elasticity of the cap (1 or by other suitable means. The method shown seems preferable however. The cap d fits loosely around the tube 6 and to close the joint dust tight I fit a felt or other fabric washer m which is held closely against the joint at all times by the spring at. The length of the spring n is not sufficient to force the washer off the end of the tube 1) when the cap d is not against it as when the barrel is opened to take out the dust cage 0. The cap d should not rest flat on the lower surface of the head 70 lest it close some of the holes through the head I therefore provide a projection cl on d as shown in Fig. 1 or, inversely, provide a support or supports on the head is of the bellows or in any other convenient manner. To get at the dust cage 0, the barrel 0 must be opened. This I preferably do by removing the nose 6 I ave successfully kler heads or fruit jar topsbut prefer to provide a supporting ledge 6 just inside the lower end of the barrel e on which the nose may rest. I further fix two or more hooks e e or one exceedingly long one to one side of the end of the barrel 6 and a springv catch 6 to the other side. \Vhen it is desired to detach the nose from the barrel, the. catch (3 is sprung away and the nose lifted on that side after which it easily is removed from under the hooks 6 e The nose of course is provided with proper bearings for the hooks e? e and the catch 6 as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

The barrel 0 may be attached to the lower head In in any manner such as by nailing its flanged end to head is but I prefer for reasons to be set forth, to clamp the barrel e to the head is and to this end usually provide a small groove (not shown) in the head to locate the beaded end of the barrel 6. Around the beaded end of the barrel 0 I place a clamping ring it which serves when screwed to the head as shown in Fig. 1 to ndt'only hold the barrel 6 tightly against thehead is but also serves to retain the outlet valve h in position. This ring it is usually not of such shape as to close the space between its periphery and the head 7: but being supported by the beaded end of the barrel e can and does have its outer'edge free from the head It so as to permit the escape of air freely. This is all that is required so far as the use of the device as a suction cleaner is concerned but for service 7 with a hose or suitable nozzle notshown.

When desired to use the device for blower or compression purposes the barrel 6 and parts fitted to and in it may be removed to save weight. The device then is very handy for dusting or cleaning corners or places not reached easily by the suction nozzle.

On the upper side of the head A: is the in let valve g. Here as in the case of the valve h I prefer to use a ring of thin light material to cover a circular line of holes. This kind of valve is very light and on lifting lets the air out both inside and outside of the ring valve so that theresistance to the passage of the air is the slightest possible. Further the circle of holes may be as large as desired so as to get more area in the holes than is found in the nozzle a or in the pipe I). The inlet valve may be arded and guided by a ring covering as is t e valve h but being inside of the bellows where it can scarcely be damaged it is preferably retained in position and its lift limited by the use of double pointed tacks g 9. To

the upper side of the head is is fixed by screws or rivets a floor plate 0 into which the rod p is screwed. This rod 29 is usually hollow for lightness and stilfness,:andha s a handle 2' fixed on its'top end. Around,

eral of these hoops (three to four) are used in a bellows two feet long- They are retained in place ordinarily by gluing them to the inner surface of the bellows cloth but can be stitched in place if preferred. The bellows f is usually of fine quality flexible cloth made practically air tight but flexible material can be used. The heads 10 Z and the bellows f with the hoops r are all preferably circular and form when distended a cylinder butcan be square or other preferred shape although the cylindric one seems best. The edges of the heads is l are deeply grooved and into these grooves the ends of the bellows f are forced by wrapping with string or wire. Inaddition glue may be used but the deep groove makes a secure fastening. To cover the wrapping and add some ornamentation a binding of braid s is usually fastened by tacks over the more or less-ragged ends of the bellows as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The rod p is usually unscrewed for shipping purposes but could be made permanent by passing it through the head In with a nut on either side of the said head 70. The valve it could be and often is mounted on the upper side of the top head Z just as the valve 9 is mounted on the upper side of the head is and in this position it is closed by gravity but if made of very light material and allowed but slight movement it will close against gravity when on the bottom of the head is as shown and for use as a blower this is much the preferred position.

The use of this device'is similar to that of many of the one person machines in that the operator holds the handle fairly stationary by resting the arm of that hand against the thigh or knee and pushing the nozzle across thejfloor to be cleaned with the other hand grasping the handle It can be used to clean a single spot by holding i stationary and working the bellows f by pushing andpulling the handle 9'.-

The total lengthvof the machine is such that the operator stoops but little, while being light it is easily moved. The large capacity of the bellows, (usually about 800 cubic inches of air) makes it very efficient; for drawing in this amount of air at each filling, the bellows draws in much dust from the usual carpet or floor". When-opening to take out the dust cage the machine is stood usually on the end of the handle i bringing the nose about breast high in a most handy position to open and close without stooping. In this position all the contents of the cage fall to the end closed by the non-perforated head d and after the tube 1) is withdrawn, the cage can be lifted out for inspection and carried to any convenient place for emptying or cleaning. While the hoops 1' are usually made of reed or ratan they can be any other suitable material. If of reed the ends are usually joined by a splice as shown at t Figs. 1 and 3. The handle j is made quite long so that even though it fits the "rod loosely and freely it Wlll not let. much air pass through during the operation of the bellows. The barrel 6 is shown cylindrical but if made slightly conical with the larger end at the head is, the ring k may be taken off and put on more easily. The flexible tube 6' not only aifordsa ready means of changing nozzles by pulling out one and inserting another but it largely destroys the noise that would arise from the sliding of the nozzle over the floor if the nozzle was connected resonantly with the barrel.

The long and generally cylindric shape of the cleaner makes it handy to get into narrow places; and the fact that it is made with concentric handles makes it either right handed or left handed and thus suits it to all users as well as permitting it'to' be worked by the opposite hand when the operator tires of working with one. The bellows being flexible are not likely to be damaged by contact with furniture, while the barrel if dented does not fit closely to any moving parts and causes no trouble as it might if it was the barrel of a pump with a piston moving therein.

It is evident that the screen could be a bag simply tied over the upper end of the tube but I prefer the arrangement shown be-- cause the bag being flexible would drop down between suctions and be likely to shake dirt back into the tube b from which it could pass out of the nozzle.

Other means may be provided for retaining the screen in position.

It will be noted that the arrangement of the parts is such that the air being lifted has a practically straight course from the nozzle a through the tubes 1) and b and on through the screen (i and valve 9 into the bellows f. This straight course lessens the friction and renders the operation more easy than if the course was tortuous or the passages small.

I claim- 1. The combination of a tube, a dust cage into which said tube extends, a dust and air-tightbarrel inclosing said cage, said tube extending within the cage a material distance beyond the bottom thereof, means at one end of the barrel engaging said tube and rigidly supporting the same, means onthe tube within the barrel adjacent the end of the cage to form a dust-tight joint between said tube and end of the barrel, and a suction device at the other end of the barrel,

said suction device having a head forming an abutment against which the dust cage is held by spring pressed means.

2. The combination of a tube, a dust cage into which said tube'extends, a dust and airtight barrel inclosing said cage, said tube extending within the cage a material distance beyond the bottom thereof, means at one end of the barrel engaging said tube,

means on the tube within the barrel adjacent the end of the cage to form a dust-tight joint between said tube and end of the barrel, a suction device at the other end of the barrel, said suction device having a head forming an abutment against which the dust cage is held by spring pressed means, valves controlling communication between said suction means and the barrel, there being a valve outlet from said suction means.

3. The combination of a dust cage, a tube extending within the same beyond the bottom thereof, a dust and air-tight barrel inclosing said cage, means on the barrel supporting said tube, means on the tube within thebarrel adjacent the end of the cage to form a dust-tight joint around the head of the cage, means connecting one end of the barrel with the tube, suction means at the opposite end'of the barrel having a head to which said barrel is affixed, said head having ports communicating with the barrel and valves'controlling said ports and forming an abutment against which the dust cage is held by spring pressed means, the inner end of said cage having a cap with means for 'lOldlIlg said cap at a distance from said hea 4. The combination of a dust cage of prac- 'tically rigid material, a screen of cloth rolled around the same, caps fitting the ends of said cage and holding said screen, a barrel inclosing said cage, a suction device to which the inner end of the barrel is secured, the inner cap being held at a distance from the adjacent head of the suction device, said head having ports and valves controlling the same and forming an abutment against which the dust cage is held by spring pressed means.

5. The combination of a tube, a dust cage having at one end ahead through which said tube extends into the cage, a washer surrounding said tube outside of and adjacent said head, a barrel inclosing said dust cage, a nose rigid with said tube and detachably engaging the end of said barrel, and a spring interposed between said washer and the nose, and a suction device having a head forming an abutment against which the dust cage is held .by said spring.

6. A tube, a dust cage of reticulated material, a fabric surrofundin the same, removable caps for the ends of said fabric in plaee, one of saidveaps having an outward protuberance, the other cap. having an axial opening, a tube inserted in said opening and extending Within the dust cage and spring pressed dust excluding means around said tube outside said head and a suction device having a head forming an abutment against which the dust Cage is said cage holding held by said spring pressed means.

Signed by me at Reading this 22nd day of August 1910. e

CHARLES E. DURYEA.

Witnesses D. M. STEWART, RHEA E. DURYEA. 

